Розділ 4.

Автоматика, комп’ютерні та телекомунікаційні технології

________________________________________________________________________________________________

UDC 621.565.94:004.2

Olga V. Olshevska

Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies, 112 Kanatnaya str., Odessa, 65039, Ukraine
 e-mail: olshevska.olga@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4512-3915, Resercher ID: G-7790-2015

COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CALCULATION MICROCHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

Creating a computer program to calculate microchannel air condensers to reduce design time and
carrying out variant calculations. Software packages for thermophysical properties of the working
substance and the coolant, the correlation equation for calculating heat transfer, aerodynamics and
hydrodynamics, the thermodynamic equations for the irreversible losses and their minimization in the
heat exchanger were used in the process of creating. Borland Delphi 7 is used for creating software
package.
Keywords: Microchannel condenser; Heat transfer; Hydrodynamics; Aerodynamics; Energy efficiency;
Entropy-cycle method; Irreversibility; Entropy generation minimization; Techno-economic analysis.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I. INTRODUCTION manufactured equipment, runs in two directions:

The program devoted in solving a relevant scientific
and technical problem. This problem is increasing the
energy efficiency and ecological reliability of the
refrigeration machines and heat pumps through
introduction of new design types of the heat exchangers.
New design types are based on miniaturization of
equipment. Microchannel heat exchangers and,
particularly, microchannel air-cooled condensers are
discussed in the research.
In the research was developed the methodology for
calculations of thermotechnical characteristics of the
microchannel condensers based on mathematical models
of heat transfer, fluid- and aerodynamics of two-phase
flow of a working fluid within a microchannel, and of an
air flow in a short channel of complex configuration.
Methods for the evaluation of the effectiveness of
the heat exchangers were expanded in the research as
well.
In the research, the theoretical principles for
experimental investigation of a new generation of the heat
exchangers were developed. The application of the
analyzed methods for evaluation of effectiveness of the
heat exchangers let us to apply the energy saving
technology for the design process.
II. THEORETICAL PART
Intensive development of refrigeration engineering
associated with a steady demand to improve the
environmental safety and energy efficiency of
modernization of the piston compressor and new design
of spiral, screw and centrifugal compressors and creation
of new types of heat exchangers.
New types of devices with air as heat or cooling
agent have been appeared at the market of refrigeration
heat exchange equipment. The heat exchangers of this
type are classified as compact microchannel heat
exchangers. Microchannel heat exchangers entered into
refrigeration from the automotive and aerospace
industries. They are small-sized, made of aluminum alloy
according to the latest technologies in the brazing furnace
with gas control, for the intensification of heat transfer.
Few years ago, most experts in refrigeration industry
were skeptical for using microchannel heat exchangers.
Currently, a large number of chillers and heat pumps have
been commercially available, which are completed by
microchannel heat exchangers. Among the leader
manufacturers such as Güntner, Danfoss should be called
[1-2]. In 2008, at the Chillventa exhibition the Güntner
сompany introduced an aluminum microchannel
condenser for commercial refrigeration units. The
company said that the operating pressure of the condenser
can reach 41 bar., the mass of the heat exchanger is
reduced to 50%, the capacity of the system with the
refrigerant at the same performance of 75%, with the
possibility of installation in the horizontal and vertical
planes.
Researchers and practitioners in relation to the rapid
development and implementation of new heat exchangers,
have a lot of questions about the possibility of thermal
engineering calculations and specifications.

© Olga V. Olshevska, 2016 48

 Холодильна техніка та технологія, 52 (3), 2016
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 1  Structural diagram

III. PRACTICAL PART post-graduate students research, as well as for the

The authors in [3-8], based on the study a large
number of researches in the field of microchannel
technology, presented their vision of the engineering
calculations of such construction.
A large amount of input parameters, the complex
correlation equations for calculating heat transfer,
aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, raised the question of
necessity to create software for analysis and design of
micro-channel heat exchangers. In this regard, by author
of this article was developing version of the software
calculation of the microchannel air condenser, allowing
the use of the proposed software system for masters and
engineers of refrigeration and heat pumps engineering.
Software system by its logical structure is a common
calculation of any heat exchanger: the definition of the
heat transfer coefficients of the working substance and
air, heat flux, two-phase flow resistance of the working
substance and the aerodynamic resistance of the air, with
access to the size of the heat exchange surface and
constructive solutions of the whole apparatus.
During the creation of software package, a number
of questions were arised by the methodology of
calculation the coefficient of heat transfer and pressure
drop as the air side, and on the side of the agent.
Therefore, a number of correlation equations with the

49 © Olga V. Olshevska, 2016

Розділ 4. Автоматика, комп’ютерні та телекомунікаційні технології
________________________________________________________________________________________________

design features of microchannel condensers are offered in (heat load, the boundary conditions of the processes).
this software package. Object Pascal was chosen as programming language,
Correlation equations described in [3-8] were Borland Delphi 7 was the programming software
selected for expanding calculation options of package.
determination the heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, Structural diagram of the program is proposed
heat transfer surfaces. (Figure 1).
The microchannel condenser element of heat Let’s present some desktop screenshots on the
transfer surface designed as an aluminum plate with personal computer with open program. Program contains
circular microchannels, on which the working substance the four main working windows. A list of working
moves. The plates are placed one above the other and windows for the object "Working substance (refrigerant)"
connected by weld fins forming channels for the air is given as an example: selection of the calculation
movement, crossed to the working substance flow. In the (Figure 2), the input data (Figure 3), the choice of
considered design of the condenser inside manifold a calculation (Figure 4), output data (Figure 5).
baffler is located, which serves to provide a two-way
movement of the working substance. It is assumed that
the first move is the removal of overheating and
subsequent condensation, and the second is supercooling
of liquid. Thus, the condenser is logically considered a
two-way condenser.
The program is based on an object programming
method which provides a solution of the problem in terms
of objects and operations on them. The condenser is
observed as a structure of a set of objects (heat exchange
surface geometry, the working substance (refrigerant),
coolant (air)), with different parameters (constructive Figure 2  Main window
sizes, thermal properties) and the links between them

Figure 3  Input data for the heat transfer coefficient determination of the agent

© Olga V. Olshevska, 2016 50

 Холодильна техніка та технологія, 52 (3), 2016
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 4  The choice of calculation

Figure 5  Output result of calculation the heat transfer coefficient of the agent

In the window selection of the calculation (Figure 4)
there is a list of the main correlation equations for the
determination of the heat transfer coefficient of the agent.
Each equation is named after the author, accompanied by
the conditions of use. The user chooses one of them at his
own discretion. As noted earlier, the program provides an
opportunity to calculate the equation of different authors,
provided that you use the function “Saving the results of
calculation”, the selected equation allows further
comparison of the results obtained in the program. One of
the commands of the program is the ability to print the
results.
CONCLUSION
Improvement of scientific and methodological
approach to designing of microchannel heat exchangers
for a wide range of parameters and characteristics of the
designed apparatus for further optimization were
presented. Created program contains eleven correlation

51 © Olga V. Olshevska, 2016

Розділ 4. Автоматика, комп’ютерні та телекомунікаційні технології
________________________________________________________________________________________________

equations for the heat transfer coefficient and the six
equations to determine the pressure drop of the working
substance for covering different types of apparatus design
and process conditions. A software package for
calculating the microchannel air condenser were
developed. A content of a large number of calculated
dependencies enhances engineers in the selection of the
heat exchange surface of the device. The results of the
software system will be used in the work of masters,
postgraduates.
REFERENCES
1. Standard products for smooth business. (2011).
Danfoss-Sanhua, 8 p.
2. Worldwide sensation Chilventa-Heat exchanger, 13th
ed. Güntner, 2008, 20 p.
3. Morozyuk, L. I., Olshevskaya, O. V. (2013).
Programmnyiy kompleks dlya rascheta mikrokanalnyih
vozdushnyih kondensatorov. Obladnannya ta tehnologiyi
harchovih virobnitstv, No. 31, 220–228 (in Russian).
4. Morozyuk, L. I., Olshevskaya, O. V. (2012). K
raschetu teplootdachi v mikrokanalah dvuhhodovogo
vozdushnogo mikrokanalnogo kondensatora.
Refrigeration Engineering and Technology, 3(137),
18-23 (in Russian).
5. Moroziuk, L. I., Olshevska, O. V. (2012). Analiz
umov teploperedachi u dvokhodovomu povitrianomu
mikrokanalnomu kondensatori, Obladnennia ta
tekhnolohii kharchovykh vyrobnytstv, no. 29, 148–155
(in Ukrainian)
6. Morozyuk, L. I., Olshevskaya, O. V. (2012). Analiz
protsessa gidrodinamiki pri kondensatsii rabochego
veschestva v mikrokanalnom kondensatore. Refrigeration
Engineering and Technology, 4(138), 22–25 (in Russian).
7. Olshevskaya, O. V. (2012) Teplovyie i aerodina-
micheskie harakteristiki mikrokanalnogo vozdushnogo
kondensatora. Proceedings of VIII mizhnarodna naukovo-
tehnichna konferentsiya, prisvyachena 90-richchyu
Odeskoyi derzhavnoyi akademiyi holodu “Staliy rozvitok i
shtuchniy holod”, 146–151 (in Russian).

Received 10 February 2016

Approved 31 May 2016
Available in Internet 30 June 2016

О. В. Ольшевська 
Одеська національна академія харчових технологій, вул. Канатна 112, Одеса, 65082, Україна
 e-mail: olshevska.olga@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4512-3915, Resercher ID: G-7790-2015

КОМП'ЮТЕРНА ПРОГРАМА ДЛЯ РОЗРАХУНКУ МІКРОКАНАЛЬНИХ ТЕПЛООБМІННИКІВ

ДЛЯ СИСТЕМ КОНДИЦІОНУВАННЯ ПОВІТРЯ

З метою скорочення часу проектування та проведення багатоваріантних розрахунків розроблено

комп'ютерну програму, призначену для розрахунку мікроканальних повітряних конденсаторів. В
процесі роботи було використано програмні пакети для визначення теплофізичних властивостей
робочого тіла й теплоносія, рівняння кореляції для розрахунку теплообміну, аеродинаміку та
гідродинаміку, термодинамічні рівняння для незворотних втрат і їх мінімізації в теплообміннику.
Для створення пакету програмного забезпечення використано Borland Delphi 7.
Ключові слова: Мікроканальний конденсатор; Теплопередача; Гідродинаміка; Аеродинаміка;
Енергоефективність; Незворотність; Техніко-економічний аналіз.

© Olga V. Olshevska, 2016 52